Wisconsin, Day 5... A Day on the Lake

Day 5

Monday, 8/15/2021

   Sunrise over the marina adjacent to the condo...

   There was one thing on tap for the day.  Along the northern coast of Wisconsin, erosion has slowly eaten away at the sandstone cliffs along Lake Superior.  That process has created a ragged coastline, including sea caves and natural bridges.  You can get close in a tour boat.  You can get up close and personal in a kayak.

   So, I signed up for a full day’s tour through Trek & Trail.  At 9A, our senior guide Caroline introduced herself and gave a brief synopsis of the day’s tour.  We then climbed into a van for the twenty minute drive to Brady Beach.  Masks were mandatory on the shuttle bus because out shove off point is a National Park beach.  

   Upon arrival, Caroline and other guide Cagney unloaded the boats and gave us the usual tutorial about kayaks and how to handle them.  Caroline also suggested something I had never heard before. When you dip one side of the paddle into the water, instead of pulling back with that arm, push forward with the arm up in the air.  It puts more of your body into the movement and won’t wear down your arms nearly as fast. It did take a while to get used to, but it did work.  I started writing out these notes from the day around 7:30P.  My back was stiff from sitting all day.  My forearms were turning red from the sun. But, my arms and shoulders felt fine.

   To get to the beach, all the gear needed to be hauled down a flight of stairs.  Four people hauling a kayak down forty stairs is easy. It’s a bit different hauling them back up at the end of the day. But, I digress.

   Once on the beach, we got the safety discussion for what to do if the kayak capsizes.  Joy! It’s pretty easy.  Everyone has a life vest.  There’s also a waterproof(ish) skirt that goes around your waste and covers the hole you sit in, to keep the water out.  

   I took it as a good sign both guides were carrying cell phones.  I left mine back in the car.  Instead, I carried an old Canon Powershot in my shirt pocket.  My theory being, I’d rather it get wet than my new phone. 

   We pushed off into a slightly choppy Lake Superior.  Our guides warned us it would get a little worse as we approached the caves, and we would probably be expecting a headwind on the return leg. 

     I’ve done two kayak trips like this.  On both, the water was calm. So, this was a bit different.  The kayak was rolling with the waves and occasionally the front would catch a little air and come slapping down.  

   In our group, we had two people in single person boats, Caroline and a woman with a lot of kayak experience. We also had a family in a three person boat.  There were also three two person kayaks.  Since I was by myself, Cagney took the back seat in my boat.  

   When we arrived at our first sea cave, Caroline went first, followed by the other boats. Cagney and I went last. 

    Further up, there was a natural bridge.  One by one we went through.  Our third was a bit different. Once you paddle in, it’s a hard left to the exit, or you hit the rocks.   All fun, but difficult to whip the camera out for pictures.

    Three and a half miles later, we spotted a beach up ahead.  That was our turning around point. We beached the kayaks and had lunch supplied by the tour company. Some folks swam on the break. I was content to just walk about a bit and stretch.

  When the tine came to head back, we took fewer stops, but still paddled through a low cave that seemed more pushing off the rocks than paddling,  The water in this cave was an incredible emerald green.

   We pulled a little away from shore and our guides pointed out a cell tower off in the distance.  We were to aim towards that.  The beach where we started was in that general direction.   The good news, the wind had died down and the water a lot less choppy.  

   Hauling the kayaks back up the stairs was a lot different than taking them down.  Add the additional factor of people just hanging out on the stairs, some of them oblivious to the fact they were just in the way.  By the time we got back to the shop, it was 4P.

   After tipping the guides and heading back to the condo for some dry clothes, it was off to find some dinner.  I wasn’t thinking pizza again. But, both guides raved about a place called the Manypenny Bistro. The pizza lived up to the hype and my waitress Becky couldn't have been nicer.

      Seen around Bayfield...

When I first saw these poles, I had no idea what they were for.                                    

    I was surprised to see them holding up a boat.

   As the day waned, I walked out to the marina by the condo for sunset. To the east, a clear half moon.   

  To the west...